Disposable display stand



March 18, 1969 R. J. HODSON 3,433,365

DISPOSABLE DISPLAY STAND Filed June 29, 1967 I NVENTOR. @cwea J #0050 19 7' Tam/5 #45 March 18, 1969 R. J. HODSON DISPOSABLE DISPLAY STAND Sheet 5 of 4 Filed June 29, 1967 INVENTOR. 9/0/4949 .I/10050M March 18, 1969 R. J. HODSON DISPOSABLE DISPLAY STAND Shet of 4 Filed June 29, 1967 I N VE N TOR. @cx-meo J/roasom Sheet Filed June 29, 1967 l 5 by 7 Aw w 1 aka 3, 2 Q/ w T FIG- 5 INVENTOR. 90/490 u? Hoax/v United States Patent 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention provides a disposable display stand constructed of two identically formed and folded sheets of carboard which are fastened in interlocking assembly by display hooks to provide an inexpensive rigid structure upon which prepackaged merchandise may be mounted or carried for shipping and display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a disposable display stand for carrying prepackaged merchandise, such as toys, notions and miscellaneous items, both during shipping and subsequent display for sale.

It is common in the sale of many items, such as toys, to prepackage the items and provide for some type of permanent stand, or the like, upon which the prepackaged items are displayed for sale. These prepackaged items are commonly provided with a semi-rigid top; as in the form of light cardboard, for identifying the item, its origin and price. The semi-rigid top is additionally pro vided with a hole by which such prepackaged merchandise may be mounted on hooks, or the like, for display.

With the advent of prepackaging of merchandise, it is possible to materially extend the range of locations in which many types of merchandise may be displayed for sale. Thus, for example, supermarkets now often display and encourage impulse buying of a variety of merchandise which is readily viewed by prospective purchasers in the transparent plastic package in which originally packaged.

To reduce the time and cost in handling, sorting and pricing of prepackaged merchandise, it is common practice for sales companies to install display stands of metal, or the like, in the retail market and provide the service of refilling the stands. Thus not only does prepackaging make it possible for a diversity of items to be sold in markets which do not specialize in that type of merchandise, but a service is provided which relieves the retail store manager of concern and expenditures attendant to maintaining an inventory of the items sold thereby. Despite the apparent advantages of this type of merchandising, there are certain disadvantages attendant thereto. For example, retail store owners and managers are entirely dependent upon the sales companies which install and maintain the display stands, the cost of which must be deducted from possible profit available to the retailer. Various other disadvantages are well known to those familiar in this field of merchandising.

The present invention provides a display stand for carrying prepackaged merchandise and having such a low cost that the display stand is truly disposable. The particular structure of the display stand of this invention affords a high degree of rigid support for items carried thereon, and, furthermore, is completely stable so as to be free standing without presenting problems of tipping or upsetting in the store. While the display stand hereof carries all prepackaged merchandise in full view of prospective purchasers, the stand also provides sufiicient protection for the items that the stand may be shipped with 3,433,365 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 the prepackaged merchandise mounted thereon. Consequently the stand itself comprises a carrier for the prepackaged merchandise during shipping and maintains the desired placement and segregation of the items most advantageous to their display for sale. Thus there is no necessity for the retailer to handle any sales item carried by the stand. This, then, provides a vehicle for direct distribution of sales items from manufacturer to retailer. The resultant increase in available profit to retailer and manufacturer is self-evident; yet, the same distribution is possible without the inconvenience of servicing displays.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the display stand of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective view of the stand loaded with display items;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a sheet of material, such as corrugated cardboard, which is employed in a folded condition as one of the panels of the display stand;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of two sheets of material in the folded condition prior to interlocking assembly and fastening;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken in the plane 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view through a portion of the display stand in the plane 6-6 of FIGURE 2 and showing a display hook in position; and

FIGURE 7 is a schematic illustration of a folded display stand.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Considering now a preferred embodiment of the present invention and referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, there will be seen to be illustrated a display stand 10, in accordance with the present invention, and including a pair of upright-inclined display panels 11 and 12 with a central transverse panel 13 forming somewhat of an A-frame structure. There are provided display hooks 14 in extension from the outer faces of the display panels 11 and 12; these hooks serve a dual purpose. The display stand is formed of folded sheets of semi-rigid material, as described in detail below, and these are held together by means of the display hooks 14. Additionally, the display hooks 14 serve to carry merchandise such as display items 16, again as described below. The display stand may also include a top panel 17 engaging the display panels at the upper joinder thereof, and serving the purpose of identifying display items carried by the structure, as by means of advertising material appearing on the faces thereof.

Considering now the physical structure of the display stand of the present invention, reference is made to FIGURE 3. The primary components of the stand are two identical flat sheets 21 and 22 which are peuforated, slotted and folded in the manner described for cooperative interconnection to define the A-frame structure of FIGURE -1. Each of these sheets is formed of a lightweight inexpensive sheet material having a substantial rigidity, such as corrugated cardboard. In employing corrugated cardboard for the sheets 21 and =22, the corrugations are disposed laterally thereof, so that maximum vertical strength is imparted to the resultant structure. The sheet 21, illustrated in FIGURE 3, will be seen to include a rectangular portion divided into three vertical sections. The central vertical section comprises the abovenoted display panel 11 extending from top to bottom of the sheet. A longitudinal outer tab 23 extends [from top to bottom of the sheet along one edge thereof and is separated from the display panel by a double perforation 24 having the perforation lines separated a distance equal to the thickness of the sheet. On the opposite side of the panel 11 there is provided an innerfold tab 26 extending from top to bottom of the sheet and likewise separated fromthe display panel by a double perforation 27 having the lines of perforation separated a distance equal to the thickness of the sheet. A small top tab 28 extends upwardly from the top of the display panel at one side thereof; it is adapted to be folded about a fold line 29 to a position behind the display panel. In addition to the foregoing portions of the sheet 21, there is also provided a portion 31 having the configuration of an isosceles trapezoid with one side thereof formed as a fold line 32 between this portion 31 and the inner longitudinal tab 26. The opposite side of this portion 31 is formed by a fold line 33, separating the portion 31 from a longitudinal lock tab 34. The bottom edge of the portion 31 is inclined upwardly with respect to the bottom edge of the rectangular portion of the sheet, as illustrated in FIGURE 3; the length of this bottom edge may be about onequarter of the total height of the rectangular portion of the sheet. The locking tab 34 may have the bottom thereof tapered, as illustrated.

In addition to the perforations and fold lines formed on the sheet 21 to define the separate portions thereof described above, there is also provided a plurality of transverse, or horizontal, slots 41 through the display of panel 11 of the sheet for accommodating the display hooks 14, described in more detail below. As previously noted,

the display hooks not only serve to mount display items upon the stand, but, also, to lock together separate portions of the stand by extension through cooperating portions thereof. While the slots 41 may be located as desired on the display panel 11, so as to accommodate display items of varying sizes and shapes, it is necessary that the slots formed in the inner and outer longitudinal tabs 26 and 23, respectively, be located to cooperate with the slots formed through the display panel. This will become more apparent upon consideration of the manner of assembly of the stand, as discussed below. In this respect, it is noted also that slots formed in the locking tab 34 must be located in position to cooperate with the slots in the display panel on assembly of the structure. Further to the location of the slots 41 in the sheet, it is noted to be illustrated in FIGURE 3 that two of the slots are disposed on the vertical center line of the panel 11. In order to accommodate hooks extending through these particular slots of the panel, there is provided a pair of upper cutouts 42 at the fold lines 32 and 33, as illustrated, and a pair of lower cutouts 43, also disposed at the fold lines 31 and 32. The purpose in cooperation of cutouts and slots will become more apparent upon consideration of the manner of assembling the structure, as described immediately below.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, it is first to be noted that corresponding portions of the sheets 22 and 23 are similarly numbered, but with primes being employed for the portions of sheet 23. FIGURE 4 shows sheets 22 and 23 folded as they would be upon assembly but spaced apart, so that the ultimately folded condition of each sheet may be fully vi'wed. In actuality, the separate sheets are not completely folded apart from each other; but, it is convenient to illustrate them in this manner for a better understanding of the physical configuration of individual sheets in folded condition. As will be seen in FIGURE 4, the sheet 21 has the outer longitudinal tab 23 folded through 180 about the double perforation 24, so as to lie parallel to the display panel 11 and behind same. The inner longitudinal tab 26 is also folded through 180 about the double perforation line 27, so as to lie parallel to the display panel and behind same. It will be seen that the inner tab 26 has a width only slightly less than half the width of the display panel 11, while the outer tab 23 has a width of only about one-third of the Width of the display panel 11. The sheet 21 is further folded along the fold line 32 to dispose the central portion 31 in perpendicular relationship to the inner tab 26 in extension behind the display panel. The locking tab 34 is turned into '-relationship with the central portion 31 by folding along the line 33, so as to extend outwardly therefrom. This locking tab 34 has a width over the majority of the length thereof approximately equal to the width of the inner tab 26. With the sheet 21 folded, as described above, and the lower edge resting upon a horizontal surface, it Will be seen that the display panel 11 is inclined with respect to vertical. This results from the inclined lower edge of the central portion 31. It is also to be noted that the locking tab 34 is likewise inclined with respect to vertical, but oppositely from the display panel 11, owing to the physical configuration of the central portion 31. The other sheet 22 is folded in the same manner as the sheet '21. during assembly.

Considering now the physical connection of the two sheets 21 and 22, reference is made to FIGURE 5 illustrating a horizontal section through the combination of sheets in folded, interlocked condition. The two sheets 21 and 22 are interlocked by placement of the locking tabs of each sheet between the display panel and outer tab of the other sheet. Thus, the locking tab 34 will be seen to be disposed against the backside of the display panel 12 with the outer tab 23' of this sheet 22 folded about the locking tab 34 and against same. Likewise, the locking tab 34 of sheet 22 is disposed against the backside of display panel 11 with the outer tab 23 of sheet 21 folded against the locking tab 34'. The central portions 31 and 31 of the two sheets will be seen to lie against each other in extension between the backsides of the display panels. These two central portions 31 and 31' then form the central panel 31 and slots formed in the two central portions are located to mate, so that a display hook may be disposed through cooperating slots of the two portions of the central panel. In addition, the top tabs 28 and 28' are folded over toward the other panel and inserted between the display panels and the inner tab. This is best illustrated in FIGURE 2 and will be seen to further lock the sheets together.

With regard to the locking together of the interlocked, folded sheets described above, reference is made to FIG- URE 6 illustrating the display hook in locking relation to the sheets. It is noted that the patented display hook of U.S. Patent No. 3,273,844 is particularly suitable for use of the present invention in providing both a mounting means for display items and a fastening means securing the interlocked, folded sheets together. In brief, the hook 14 comprises a lower plate 51 connected to an upper plate 52 by a central horizontal portion 53 perpendicular to both upper and lower plates and a rod 54 extending from the front of the lower plate perpendicularly thereto at the top thereof. The upper and lower plates 51 and 52 are parallel to each other, and the extent of the horizontal portion 53 is made suflicient to extend through whatever wall portion the hook is adapted to be mounted upon. The hook additionally includes a pointed tooth 56 extending from the back of the lower plate 51 near the bottom thereof. In order to lock the folded and interconnected sheets of the display stand hereof together, the hooks 14 are inserted in the slots 41 by pushing the upper plate 52 through cooperating slots in adjacent portions of sheet material. The hook is then rotated downwardly, so as to swing the upper and lower plates thereof into engagement with the wall formed by adjacent layers of sheet material. As the hook is rotated, the tooth 56 in the back of the lower plate pierces the sheet material and imbeds itself therein, as illustrated. The hook is thus locked in the position shown. In mounted position, the hook will be seen to have the tooth imbedded in the sheet material, so as to remain in the illustrated position, with the upper and lower portions of the hook clamped against opposite side of the mounting wall. Consequently the hook tight- 1y holds the layers of the sheet material together. This, then, serves to lock together the two sheets forming the display stand of the present invention. The locking tabs 34 are firmly secured between adjacent portions of the other sheets on opposite sides of such tab; consequently, a rigid display-stand structure is formed by interlocking of the sheets and placement of the hooks in position.

In addition to the hooks 14 which extend through the display panels and fold tabs of the unit, there are also provided additional hooks for further strengthening of the unit and placement of additional display items thereon. Thus, a plurality of display hooks 14 may be mounted upon the central portion 31, 31' of the stand. These hooks are mounted in the same manner as those described above in extension through the two portions 31, 31' of the stand, so as to lock together these portions and further anchor the two sheets together. These hooks so mounted also serve to carry additional display items which may be hung therefrom. Certain of the hooks extending from the display panels of the stand may be located at the center of these panels, as indicated, for example, in FIGURE 1. It will be seen that these hooks have the upper portion 52 thereof extending into cutouts provided in the central portions 31 and 31 of the sheets. The location and number of hooks employed with the sheets forming the display stand hereof may be widely varied. It is again noted that the hooks perform the dual functions of locking together the interlocked sheets 21 and 22 and carrying the display items 14 on the stand. Of course, the hooks 14 are preferably formed of lightweight inexpensive materials such as plastics, so as to be readily disposable along with the remainder of the stand materials.

With the stand assembled, as described above, the display items 16 are placed on the hooks to load the stand for shipping. A group of prepackaged items comprising the display items 16 is illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Referring to this figure, it will be seen that the illustrated display items are schematically shown as comprising plastic bags 82 enclosing items for sale and having a semi-rigid top portion 83 of lightweight cardboard or the like. Holes through the bag tops allow the bags to be hung upon the hooks, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The weight of the bags necessarily holds the hooks downwardly from the anchored position upon the display panels. Because of the inclined panels and rods extending perpendicularly thereto, the items hung on the rods tend to settle by gravity to the back of the rod near the panel, and thus to locate the weight of the display items between the lower edges of the inclined panels upon which the display stand rests. Although FIGURE 2 illustrates only two loaded hooks, it is to be understood that each of the hooks is intended to carry display items, so that the complete stand is then substantially covered by display items.

The loaded display stand, as described above, is adapted to be packaged for direct shipment from a manufacturer to a retail outlet, such as a supermarket or the like. Generally, the top panel 17 is not affixed to the display stand prior to packaging of the entire stand, but, instead, is included in the package for attachment to the stand upon removal of same from the package. Thus top panel 17 may contain advertising, or the like, and an identification of the material carried by the stand. This panel, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, will be seen to include a folded sheet of lightweight material, such as corrugated cardboard, having a pair of slots 92 extending upwardly from the bottom edge thereof. A score line 93 extends across each side of the top panel at the top of the slots 92 to thus define two pairs of outer tabs 94 and a pair of inner tabs 96. The slots 92 are displaced inwardly from the side edges of the top panel a distance slightly greater than the width of the upper tabs 28 of the sheets forming the lower portion of the display stand. In order to attach the top panel to the lower portion of the display stand, it is only necessary to slip the inner tabs 96 between the two display panels 11 and 12, and to fork the depending tabs 94 outwardly to extend down over the top of these display panels. This further serves to hold the display stand together and imparts additional structural rigidity thereto, while at the same time providing advertising for the display items carried by the stand.

The assembled stand, loaded with display items, is adapted to be packaged by placement in a generally rectangular-shaped container, such as a box of corrugated cardboard. Preferably, such container, or box, has the same inner Width as the width of the display panels, so as to bear against the edges thereof. This, then, serves to internally reinforce the container, and the top panel 17 may be rotated from its assembled position when inserted in the container, so as to further internally reinforce same. This packaged unit may be entirely assembled by a manufacturer and directly shipped to a retailer, so as to provide the retailer with a disposable display stand fully loaded with display items bearing price markings thereon, for example, and containing high-quality advertising at-op same. The retailer need only remove the display stand from its container, or package, as by a perforated strip provided on the package, and place the freestanding display in a location for sale of the items. The stand then serves as a self-service sales installation pro vided at a minimum of cost to the retailer and requiring a minimum of effort and service by such retailer. Upon depletion of display items from an individual stand, the retailer need only replace the display stand with another one, placing unsold items from the last display stand upon the new one. The remaining old display stand may then be destroyed. The entire display stand, including hooks and advertising panel, is formed of lightweight inexpensive material, so that it is normally provided to the retailer substantially without cost. The retail merchandiser is absolved of the necessity of handling, marking and inventorying sales items. Additionally, it is noted that the present invention provides the retail merchandiser with a pleasing display of prepackaged merchandise with manu facturers advertising and markings thereon. Of course, the display panels of the stand may be finished in any desired manner by the manufacturer and may include designs, markings, etc., to maximize sala-bility of the items carried by the stand. Consequently, the disposable display stand of the present invention provides the retail merchandiser with the very best type of advertising display which might otherwise not be available to the retailer because of the cost thereof.

It is to be noted that the above-described embodiment of the dis-play stand hereof is stated to be held together by the hooks 14. It will also be appreciated that additional fastening means may be employed, if desired. Thus, for example, large staples may also be utilized, although same are not normally required. It is to be further noted that while the display stand is adapted to be packaged and shipped in fully assembled condition, it is also possible to package the stand in partially-assembled condition. This is schematically illustrated in FIGURE 7 wherein it will be seen that the panels 11 and 12 have been swiveled With respect to each other to lie in adjacent parallel planes. This can only be accomplished by removal of the hooks through the central portions 31, 31' of the stand. For certain types of packaging it may be desirable to load the stand with the display panels in the position illustrated in FIGURE 7. This may be readily accomplished with the hooks removed from the central portions 31, 31, and such hooks may then be placed in the package for insertion by the retailer upon receipt of the unit. Various other modifications are possible in accordance with the present invention; it is not intended to limit the the invention to the precise details of the above-described embodiment.

It is particularly noted that the .stand of the present invention is disposable and is, consequently, formed of inexpensive materials. The use of corrugated cardboard fastened together with plastic hooks fulfills this requirement. The present invention provides an improved means to be employed in a novel technique of merchadising wherein the manufacturer is placed in the position of correctly exhibiting his ware through a retailer Without the necessity of retail handling, or the like, and with complete elimination of middle men. Although certain aspects of this type merchandising have been previously exploited, the present invention provides for further improvement therein. This disposable display stand of the present invention is adapted to accommodate any type of prepackaged merchandise that is not overly perishable: it is noted that the invention is particularly applicable to the sale of toys and the like. In this latter respect, the ready availability of reasonably-priced toys to the general public, particularly in locations frequented by parents and chidlren alike, substantially increases the total volume of the sale of toys. It will thus be seen that the present invention is highly desirable from the viewpoint of manufacturer and retailer.

- Although the present invention has been described above with respect to a single preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not intended that the invention shall be limited by the terms of the description or illustrations.

That which is claimed is:

1. A disposable display stand comprising at least two sheets of lightweight material having a substantial rigidity, each of said sheets being folded to define a display panel with a tapered portion extending rearwardly therefrom and folded tabs; said sheets being disposed in back-toback relation with the tapered portions adjacent and separating the panels and the tabs lying against the panels in back thereof, and a plurality of display hooks each having an extension adapted to carry display items and a rear portion extending through a panel and adjacent tab of the other sheet for locking together the sheets.

2. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 further defined by each of said sheets having transverse slots through the display panels thereof and through the folded tabsthereof in position to mate with display panel slots in assembled condition of the sheets, and said hooks having upper and lower plates separated by a horizontal portion for insertion through said mating slots to fix the hooks in position and hold the sheets together.

3. The display panel of claim 1 further defined by securing means extending through the adjacent tapered portions of each sheet to hold the sheets together.

4. The display stand defined in claim 3 further defined by said securing means being hooks having upper and lower plates separated by a horizontal portion extending through mating slots in said tapered portions.

5. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 further defined by each of said sheets having longitudinal tabs along each side of the display panel and folded to lie behind the panel, said tapered portion being folded from one of said tabs to extend behind the panel, and a locking tab folded normal to the tapered portions to lie between the back of the other display panel and a folded tab thereof in interlocking relation.

6. The display stand of claim 1 further defined by said tapered portion having a greater Width at the top than at the bottom to thereby dispose said panels in inclined position adjoining at the tops thereof.

7. The display stand of claim 1 further defined by a third sheet of lightweight material having depending tabs and assembled with said two sheets atop the panels thereof with said depending tabs interlocking with said two sheets to further hold the stand together.

8. A display stand as set forth in claim 1 further defined by at least one tab of each sheet lying between the display panel and a tab of the other sheets, and said hooks including fiat plates for bearing against a substantial area of the display panel to distribute pressure and a sharp projection piercing the material of said sheets for anchoring the hook to the sheet.

9. A display stand as set forth in claim 8 further defined by each sheet having a small top tab extending upwardly from the top and adapted to be folded over to fit between the display panel and tab of the other sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,920,767 1/ 1960 Halip 211- 3,178,092 4/1965 Munana 22922 3,250,454 5/1966 Steiger 22922 3,273,844 9/ 1966 Hodson 248-217 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 211-169; 248-459 

